RETUEN TO CAIRO. 27 



guest. We here meet an Italian who lives at Damietta ; he 

 is a very good sportsman, and accompanies us next day to 

 show us the best shooting-ground. 



The Consul provides us with horses equipped with velvet 

 and gold saddle-cloths, which look rather out of character 

 with our rough shooting-suits. We are taken to the same 

 lake that we had been shooting around for the last week ; we 

 have, however, a pleasant day's sport, and collect a few 

 Painted Snipe. We did not find many of these birds ; but 

 our Italian friend told us that they are often met with here, in 

 flocks of twenty or thirty, when they are easily scattered, and 

 will then lie close, like Jack Snipe, and are consequently 

 easily shot; but they are very poor eating. He also told us 

 that November and December are the best months for duck- 

 shooting, when he has killed hundreds of them in their flight 

 from Lake Menzaleh to this marsh. 



On the 26th we leave Damietta, and return up the Nile 

 with as little delay as possible, as the season is becoming 

 late for ascending the river, and reach Cairo on the 1st of 

 March. Finding that a new awning is required for the boat, 

 we set the men to work at it, while we lay in fresh supplies 

 and finish seeing the toAvn. I was very fortunate in col- 

 lecting birds during this three weeks' tour in the Delta, and 

 obtained several species which we did not meet with later; 

 so, as a guide to other ornithologists, I will give a short 

 list of the birds which should be obtained during a similar 

 tour, and which are not so likely to be met with higher up 

 the Nile. 



1. Aquila imperialis. Imperial Eagle. 



2. Circus (Entginostis, Marsh-Harrier, far more abundant 

 in adult plumage in the Delta than elsewhere. 



